Home Battery vs Backup Generator: Which Is Better?

Cost: Let’s address the issue that most of us are concerned about: money. Depending on your home, utility rates and backup needs, a home battery can offer savings over a standby generator in three important ways. First, a properly configured solar and battery system can continue operating during a blackout, allowing your solar panels to produce energy and recharge the battery without the ongoing fuel costs of a generator. A large standby generator can consume several gallons of propane per hour depending on its size and electrical load. For example, a 24 kW Generac can use approximately 2.5 gallons per hour at half load and 3.9 gallons per hour at full load. Over an extended outage, those fuel costs can become significant. Second, a battery allows you to make more effective use of the electricity your solar system generates. Depending on your utility and rate plan, excess solar sent to the grid may be credited at a lower rate than the electricity you purchase from the utility later in the day. With a battery, you can store excess solar energy during the day and use that power later, when your home would otherwise draw electricity from the utility. When configured for a compatible time-of-use rate plan, Tesla Powerwall can also automatically charge and discharge at strategic times to reduce the amount of electricity you purchase during higher-cost peak periods. This can create additional savings on your electric bill.

Financial Incentives

Battery incentives change frequently and depend on your utility, location, eligibility and available program funding. California homeowners may qualify for programs such as the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), while eligible SMUD customers may qualify for battery incentives through My Energy Optimizer Partner+. Connected Technology can review the incentives currently available for your home before you choose a system.